The Saloon

It's a cool bar with a unique atmosphere. If you want to listen to live street jazz, this is the place.

I Love the wonderful old ol’ skool San Francisco atmosphere of this lovely dive. It’s a must-stop every time I frequent Chinatown and North Beach. I mainly come for the live music, dancing, and great vibe. I also greatly appreciate the graceful bartenders who have grit and are attentive and ready for anything.

The Saloon is a lively bar with a great atmosphere, especially for those who enjoy live music and a throwback vibe. One of the highlights is seeing patrons dressed in vintage clothing, which adds to the charm. People really get into the music, often taking to the dance floor to showcase their moves. The overall vibe is nostalgic, creating a unique experience that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into another era. The energy is infectious, making it a great spot to enjoy live performances and watch people dance the night away.

I wanted to like this place but I feel like my group was disrespected. We walked in didn’t cause any scene. We bought 6 drinks at the bar with the only cash we had and tipped our bartender. We sat there and enjoyed our drinks and music. Then the performer decided to pass around the tip jar directing people to tip. Last time I checked and tip is not mandatory and if he should be paid for the performance that should have been known at the door. He shoved the tip jar in all the members of my group one by one demanding tip. We manage to find a couple dollars but didn’t have further cash and used it all drinks. The performer then demanded that he would play one song and then kick us out in a condescending tone. I’m not sure if it’s a standard to be kicked out by the bands demanding a tip but it felt rude to a group who wasn’t causing trouble and already paid for drinks. He didn’t even do it to everyone else in there. What a shame….

This place have an amazing atmosphere, the music, but is almost drink place with not the special one, only drinks less than 10buvks. But, I love and is a experience you must go!

Awesome band playing blues/country. A very local and non touristy place, an accidental find looking for a place to drink after dinner.

We recently concluded our visit to the establishment. Initially, the first round of drinks amounted to $13 for both. However, we observed an unexpected increase in price for the second round, despite ordering the same drinks. Despite this minor setback on New Year's Day, we opted to focus on enjoying the exceptional music. Additionally, there was an incident with one of the bartenders, a stout individual, who exhibited rudeness when I attempted to capture a photo of the bar, stating firmly not to consider taking any photographs. so be prepare for that if you’re planning to visit.

Unreal. Incredible music. Great folks. Cash only.

This is an amazing place, an institution, full of real music and real people. Nuf said.

When you're in the city looking for places to drink, this place is mandatory. Stop by, listen to the music. Chat with some locals or tourists. Get you a very cold beer. They're very cheap, if not the cheapest beer to get in North Beach. Saloon is perfectly across from El Farolito if you get hungry. It's the oldest saloon in the City.

This place is so fun, the music, the energy, all so great. The drinks are great and the bands are amazing.

Visited 1/5. Nice woman bartender. Dog on the bar. Dog and I hated the music. IT WAS WAY TOO LOUD. Drink prices reasonable

Great no nonsense bar in San Francisco North Beach neighborhood. Cash only and live music. Rule #1 minimum. 1 drink per person! And...if you have seen Reese Witherspoon in Just Like Heavan, they filled a scene here. Stop by for a drink and some fun!

Great place for live music and well drinks. Cash only, with a $5 cover per person on the Friday I was there, and the staff are super friendly. Can be hard to get a drink at the bar, so have your order ready when they come to you. Something to be aware of, there are pickpockets that hang out in the back, where the band is playing. Guy put his whole hand into my purse while using a jacket over his arm to hide it.

This place shouts that it's a dive bar. Not so much IMHO. What it is is a wonderful music bar with a casual (rough) interior, very good inexpensive drinks, smart bartender, and really great music. Incidentally, one reason I question it's diveish credentials is that they have a discrete but excellent sound system, not easy in a long narrow room with the music at one end. Get there between sets, stake out your seats and don't move. It's small and gets very crowded when the music's playing. There's limited (very) space for dancing in front of the band.

Fun cash only dive bar for a stop on your weekend out. Cover charge of $5 for really good live music. Drinks were strong and bar was full of energy and good vibes.

SHARON!!! My spouse and I are tourist. And we were recommend this bar many times, though we already had planned to come here. It was WELL worth the hype. If anything it was undersold to us. Very good prices on drinks, great clientele, but let me speak on the bartender- the one who sets the tone for the bar. Sharon knew we weren't locals but was happy to share the history of the bar, take us outside to show more history, and recommend food/fun/dining nearby. After only 2 drinks I consider her a friend. She makes a GREAT host. My spouse and I own a bar in Florida and if we could pack her up and take her with us we would. She was incredible. From start to finish. We'd visited many bars since being in San Fran and never stayed more than one drink anywhere else. She is a perfect representation of this bar. All wits, banter, fun, and full of character. A class act in anyone's book. You can tell she's a valuable asset to The Oldest Bar In The Bay. I can't wait to make another visit solely to be served by her again.

the folks were nice and welcoming; shots were big; it was definitely a dive bar if that's what you are looking for; music was just ok but we were there early around 5pm

Markelle is the best bartender in the neighborhood. Cheap drinks, great service, amazing music.

"Music Makes the people Come together" -Madonna Excellent perch to people watch and dance to live music. Don't even think about parking on weekends-- take Bart or get a ride. Great time!

Erica was an amazing bartender. She was very friendly and attentive. We loved sharing jokes with her. We will be back to see her soon! Thanks Erica!!

The Saloon has cool vibes, a friendly bartender, and music daily. It's an SF tradition since 1861 and definitely worth the visit.

My favorite place for blues music in north beach. My destination for every trip to SF!

I love this place. I love the quality of the bands. The bar and people are friendly. You can't beat the history it is small but things were like that in 1861. I like the crowd mostly older locals, but then there are tourists. It's a must go to spot while in San Francisco..

It is one of the oldest drinking establishments in San Francisco and it feels like the day it was built. The staff is magnificent. The crowd is always interesting and the music is always fabulous. Go now.

Amazing vibes and good music! A must if you enjoy live music or visiting San Francisco. Please note it is a cash only bar and there is a $5 cover.

Ok, this place is kind of a dive, but it's REAL San Francisco! I've lived in northern CA for ever and I've never been to a more SF bar. Sure, it's a tourist trap. People come and go constantly. They come in for one or two drinks and split, but this is true SF. A bunch of old hippies and trust funds hanging out having fun. The music is awesome, as you would expect in SF. You probably can't play on stage if you don't have a masters in music. The band I saw was a technically good as anyone, but really fun too. Also, the drinks are pretty cheap. But, they only take cash, so plan ahead. Which I didn't, but there's an ATM across the street. If

I visit San Francisco a couple of times a year I have been to this saloon many times. I'm not always used to being treated with respect when I go there. About a month ago this female bartender I think her name was Ashia she was so nice to me and very professional. I hope to see her next time I visit.

Amazing our bartender was great and very personable. The coolest thing is they serve easy drinks at an affordable prices. If you want to feel like you're in the heart of the city with some cool regulars definitely check this place out.

This is a dive bar. But it isn't. It's a cool, local, eclectic dive bar! Cash only so prepare for that- in addition to incredible live music, helpful bartenders, and immaculate vibes. Put it on your SF list!

If I could leave a review without any star, I would. Thanks to Markel, who's the worst bartender in the history of bartenders. Skinny bleached blonde that has an over-the-top nasty unprofessional attitude, You'll know it's her when you realize you did not get your correct change back. I've never seen a bartender who treats people in such a disgusting manner. When customers complain about her and ask to speak to the manager/owner, she tells them she's the owner. She's driven customers out of the bar and some of them were visiting here from other places. What a great impression they got. She comes in a bad mood and takes it out on the patrons. I've never seen someone behave like this where they work. I've dealt with her maybe 6 times and it's the same every time. I use this site only to look up reviews. I never leave any (this will be my 2nd review) but this is bad for business. Good thing they have other bartenders there that make up for it.

This is the ONLY blues club in the entire Bay Area worth a darn for real blues music. They have a 40 + history. The owner is the rarest of human beings, a most generous club owner with a good ear for musicianship. The bartenders are fabulous. You can be yourself and dance the night away. The Saloon is beloved to musicians. I have played there once a month for 34 years straight. It's my favorite place to play and I have been to 46 states in the U.S.

Music was very good. Bartender was not. She was an older lady that seemed to be mad at the world. I saw her insult customers and it was like she was doing everyone a favor by letting us drink there. First time in this bar and I expected a lot more since I was referred here by another bartender at another bar. Hopefully she was just having a bad night.

Very cool spot to grab a drink and hang out with friends. The bartenders were very knowledgeable and on-to-it. Great service.

An iconic dive bar in San Francisco, live music every day starting at 4:00pm. Circa 1861.

Okay. So I like a dive bar as much as anyone else but there's a point where it gets too much. The music was perfection. The atmosphere great. It just needs a renovation and cleaning. Also beer was not cold. Probably would not return.

Sharon was the most amazing bartender in the whole city! I hardly write reviews but this woman deserves it all. 12/10 service, representation, went above and beyond for us !!

Dive bar. So important to the underside of our culture. Not the polished pressed wood and Marshall's art of modern America corporate bar. The Applewood esthetic you see in every conformed American town. The Saloon is none of that. I went there on a chilly San Francisco night. I went to same place all the poets and singers and writers went, because this place hasn't changed. Ever. I ordered a Budweiser because that's what you order in a place like this. Or a whiskey. Neat. No ice. I'm looking up at the stage, to mics, SM-58s, a drum kit. Janis Joplin sang up there. Everybody sang up there. It's Tuesday night. Plenty of seats. The bartender mostly ignores me. It's cold. The door is open. I keep my wool cap pulled down over my ears. Dive bar perfect. Nothing special. That's the whole point. Except the ghosts. They're painted on the walls. They're scrubbed into the floor. I place my hands on the bar and feel them.

Ok let me preface this by saying I absolutely love Sam Francisco nostalgic architecture and culture. I came here on a recommendation from a conversation with an uber driver about old buildings in the city. He was quick to let me know how it was "The Oldest Bar in the area". Well I am a sucker for a good dive bar and some history so I had him drop me off there. Based upon appearance this was everything I was hoping for. Old building. Some faded paint on the single paned windows door open which seemed really inviting. I walked in to find a middle aged bartender with a biker vest and orthopedic senior citizen shoes on with his face buried in his cell phone. I greeted him with a "Hello" and promontory got ignored as I went to find a seat. Upon finding my seat the odor of musty, moldy wood overtook me and I checked under the bar where I was sitting due to the strong smell of something rotting. But no big deal, I was here for the experience. Expecting a bit more hospitality from the bartender in orthopedic shoes I noticed he had a lap dog sitting on the bar which he was feeding water to at this point. Hoping to make eye contact or get his attention he started a conversation with two guys who were already at the bar. This went on for a few more minutes. He eventually looked in my direction, placed his hand on a large buck knife he had in a leather sheath on his belt and began to glare at me and walked toward my end of the bar. I said hello and asked what beers he had in a bottle. He didn't utter a word and pointed at a piece of cardboard which had beer box labels glued to it that was affixed to the bar and immediately looked at the ceiling in disgust. Thinking this may be part of the schtick of this place I ordered a beer, which finally got my first verbal response from this guy. He rudely just told me the price as he stared at the ceiling. Thinking this was a pay first place I got my wallet out and his second verbal berating came which was to rudely inform me that it was cash only. I paid for my beer and was hoping to take in the place, again this place came recommended. What I found was nothing short of disgusting. There was musical equipment (microphone stands, amplifiers etc.) sitting on the floor leading me to believe that this place must play live music. I could imagine how entertaining of a venue this place has the potential to be. Living in the 21st century I had already checked this place out online and noticed a unique bathroom which was half basement half washroom. It was about time for me to make a nature call when I entered the mens room. I was greeted by a set of stairs going under the foundation which I had to lower my head to make full entry. I found the single toiled which was full of human feces, toilet paper which was covered in fecal matter laying over the side of the toilet and floor. It looked like something from a 3rd world refugee camp. Completely disgusting. By this point I was about to leave but knew I had a drink waiting to be finished at the bar. I returned to my seat only to finally hear the bartender speak to a couple who walked in. They said "Hello Shane" which he replied with a grumble. They seemed to know of him or be regulars. He was about a half a tick less rude to them. But they seemed to accept it. I would imagine good service is hard to come by in that area if he's the norm. To sum this place up, it's a disgustingly dusty, musty wood smelling, rude service by a middle aged man who's a mix between a bootleg Sons Of Anarchy character and half cripple in orthopedic shoes fully equipped with an open carry fixed blade knife. The fecal matter covered toiled was just icing on the cake to the experience. I'm looking for the thumbs down button or -10 stars. I would never return to this place. Don't let the nostalgia fool you. It's a real dump.

My favorite bar in San Francisco I lived there for 20 years. If I had a chance to go back I would go to The Saloon, Buena Vista, Scoma's, House of Prime Rib. It been 20 years but I would bet on them. Those kind of places are rare everywhere.

Love this place! The people are very friendly. The music is fantastic. And the drinks are inexpensive. Great spot!

This is a great local dive bar, the blues band was great, the drinks are reasonable and the atmosphere is fun and easy going

The owner/ the blond bartender is extremely rude and condescending. Zero customer service skills, she needs some courses on how to speak to people and serve. I arrived there to meet my friends. Shortly after getting there, I was talking to them (showing some pictures of our tour thru the city) and did not notice any signs (Cash only/ One drink per person!). Instead of getting my attention politely, say hi and then notify me of the signs! POLITELY!! Not rudely or condescending speaking to me. You should not speak to people that way ever, specially CUSTOMERS or potential ones! I would understand if the bar was full but no, it was EMPTY!!!! I felt threatened and had no reaction at the time plus, did not want to cause a scene but, I wish I had put that ugly bitter soul in her place!! I hope karma catches her one day! I wouldn't recommend spending your hard earned money here specifically if that old blond b*** is there and if you are a TOURIST! Checking the reviews it seems they hate Tourists! If you are one do not come here! Plenty of nice and fun bars to choose from in SF!

Fun time, comfortable vibe and live music - what else can you ask for. If you're into blues, this is the place for you. Fair warning, it is an older crowd but any age would feel welcome.

I came here last night with 3 of my friends. They just wanted to grab one drink and then we were heading home. I am sober and don't drink, I ordered a soda water and found a stool to sit on and enjoy the music. My friend wanted to take a photo of us and their was a flash on her camera. After the second photo was taken I was still smiling and laughing and out of no where a huge ice cube is thrown directly at my eye from the bar tender and I immediately started crying from the pain. I was confused as to what had just happened I thought it must have been an accident and then I thought it was a shot glass she threw from how hard it was. My friend who took the photo realized she was trying to throw the ice cube at her to get her attention because she didn't like the flash of the camera. So the ice cube was thrown on purpose to hit my friend and hit me instead. I was embarrassed and people around had seen what had happened, when I looked up the bartender knew she had hit me and she was just shaking her head saying things under her breath. I was still so confused as to what happened and my friend walked me outside. She asked to look at my eye and told me it was bleeding. The bar tender cut my skin open under my eye with the ice she had thrown. My two other friends stayed in the bar and quickly told her what she had hurt me & how horrible it was and then they left. I drove home and I still am just in shock. I've debated filing a report to the police or just calling the owner but I have a feeling she might be an owner. I am just so disturbed this happened and I hope this woman doesn't go around assaulting patrons on the regular. Regardless.. if there is no flash allowed at the bar (we didn't see any signs) then the correct way to tell someone that is not to assault them. This woman was maybe in her 60s with blonde hair. This is a photo of my eye when it happened and when I got home and took off my makeup. Today I have a black eye. On Easter, which is also the death anniversary of my father and I had to spend time with family today with a black eye and share the wonderful story. Which everyone told me to press charges.

Live music at The Saloon never disappoints!! It's not for everyone, but it's a San Francisco gem if you're going for real blues music.

to the bartender at the saloon tonight you took a $300 cash tip from the very women I had to call emergency services for yea I am military guy who did call you then charged me $3 per cup of coffee after it i had a couple of matkers mark and you charged me more for my coffee tan my drinks you probably walked out with a handful of money i hope the lady in the hospital is ok cause you did more than a couple folks dirty you called your boss rather the EMTs i will not return EVErR i have been coming to listen to music for years the band even played a thank you song tp me for what did then you charge me a stuoid amount for coffee after the EMTs arrived you were/are drunk behind the bar over services to others and then disrespect me by asking for what you did for just coffee i even said something to the coffee as I left putting money before others safert will come back on you young lady

It's a dive bar at its best. Oldest bar in SF. Awesome live music. Rude, old bartenders lol. Cash only. You don't come here for the service. You come here for the music and crowd.

Classic and the oldest Saloon in the City! It's a must visit when in town or a local! Live music bands jamming it up and a pleasure while getting a drink on! Cash only and sometimes a cover depending on whose playing that night! Hole in the wall spot and for the older crew is the scene here!

I had some out-of-town friends, who wanted to hear some blues, so we went to this bar, what a mistake! The bartender Shane is so rude and the worst, we have ever seen! The place is still extremely dirty! extremely

Latest news, now open! Praise be! Noon - 2am everyday, with live music again. Visit their FB page for band updates. Normalcy is feeling better and better. https://www.facebook.com/saloonsf

This place is the best thing since sliced bread great Sunday blues lineup I've been going there for over 50 years and enjoyed every single time I went I'll give it 10 Stars if you could

Cool little bar one of the oldest in San Francisco . Live music . It is cash only so keep that in mind but it's a cool place to spend a couple of hours

The Sunday bartender is so hospitable! From her accent, I'd guess she's from the South. I believe her name is Markelle Palombo. Best Bloody Mary's in the neighborhood. Muy Fuerte!

A real dive bar! Fabulous music! Great drinks! Welcoming bar staff! Great place to spend an evening meeting new friends!

You had me at daily 4pm shows! And after 3 years of avoiding the trip to city, we did it yesterday! Incredibly fun afternoon with bartender Rose's stiff, cheap drinks, dancing alone, dancing with others while soaking up every note from Walter Jebe and band AND so many talented musicians that popped in for different songs - AJ Crawdaddy, guitar and Jill Dineen, bass guitar and a woman singing blues that had every cell in my body singing right along. Only downside was learning that Walter Jebe is taking a year off. But good for him. Bathrooms - mine was clean. Parking - North Beach Garage $4hrly +chinese proverb w/space! Call liquor $4.50 Cash only bar RIDICULOUSLY GREAT TALENT Friendly patrons though a giant guy in California Hells Angels jacket bumped me on his way to bathroom. I grinned. Tight space. Stepped out front for air a few times and what a hoppin' corner! If you've been procrastinating, make it happen! Worth the ghastly drive (especially since I wasn't the driver ;) )

This is the go-to place in SF for live music! It's very famous, but in the end it's just a dive bar. I wanted to see blues but the night I was there it was country - but country played very, very fast! Wow! Despite being very well known they don't scalp you for drinks. I definitely plan on going again the next time I'm in the area.